Dune 2’s Denis Villeneuve is coming out hard against the Academy’s decision to deem Hans Zimmer‘s score ineligible for the Oscars.
What did Denis Villeneuve say about the Oscars disqualifying Hans Zimmer’s Dune 2 score?
In October, the Academy disqualified Zimmer’s score for Dune: Part Two from Oscar consideration because it shares too much music with Dune. According to the Academy, it surpasses the limit on pre-existing music, making it ineligible for Best Original Score. Zimmer famously won the Oscar for Best Original Score on Dune.
Earlier this month, Villeneuve gave a talk at a Director’s Guild of America screening of Dune: Part Two in New York. Villeneuve expressed disappointment with the Academy for banning Zimmer’s score from Oscar contention.
“I am absolutely against the decision of the Academy to exclude Hans, frankly, because I feel like his score is one of the best scores of the year,” Villeneuve said via SlashFilm. “I don’t use the word genius often, but Hans is one.”
Villeneuve further explained how continuity exists between the scores, as Dune 2 is “rooted in Part One.” To Villeneuve, Dune 1 and 2 are “one big movie that is cut in half.”
Despite his dissatisfaction with the decision, Villeneuve tried to keep things cordial.
“I’m not here to complain,” Villeneuve said jokingly. “The soundtrack is really a continuity of Part One.”
Even without Zimmer’s inclusion, Dune: Part Two should receive multiple Oscar nominations, especially for its below-the-line work. Dune received 10 Academy Award nominations, winning six: Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Visual Effects.
Directed and co-written by Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two follows Paul Atreides and his quest to unite the Fremen and exact his revenge on the Harkonnens for destroying his house. Timothée Chalamet returns as Paul for Part Two. The cast includes Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, and Javier Bardem.
(Source: SlashFilm)
